Ju 87 Stuka Dive Bomber - World War II Vehicles Ceiling: 26,903 ft. Armament Guns: 2× 7.92 mm MG 17 machine gun forward, 1 × 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun to rear Bombs: Standard load - 1 x 255 lb. bomb, 2 x 50 lb. bombs Ju 87 Stuka - Development: With the Nazi rise to power in 1933, Germany began to rearm. Among those weapons systems the new regime desired was an effective dive bomber. While this need was initially met by the Henschel HS-123, effort continued on other designs. At Junkers, designer Hermann Pohlmann worked on a new dive bomber drawing from the firm's earlier Ju K 47. These efforts were encouraged in 1935 when the German Air Ministry (Reichsluftfahrtministerium - RLM) issued specifications for a new dive bomber. While four firms entered the competition, two were immediately eliminated and the Junkers design squared off against the Heinkel He-118.

Powered by an imported Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine, Pohlmann's design was designated Ju 87 V1. While the prototype was built and Sweden and secretly brought to German in 1934, issues with the airframe delayed is completion until late 1935. An ungainly looking aircraft, the Ju 87 V1 possessed inverted gull wings and a braced tail with twin tailfins. Testing with the prototype moved forward but was soon halted when chief test pilot Willy Neuenhofen was killed in a crash on January 24, 1936 when the aircraft's tail section collapsed. Re-tooling the design, Junkers changed the tail design to a single vertical stabilizer. As the design progressed, the Ju 87 V1 met resistance from RLM who were unhappy with its use of an imported engine. To rectify this issue, plans were made to use the Jumo 210 instead. Though testing in early 1936 went well, some Luftwaffe officers felt the aircraft was underpowered and the program was threatened with cancellation.

Rescued by Colonel General Ernst Udet , a World War I ace and RLM officer, work continued. The following month, the Ju 87 V1 won the competition after Udet was forced to bail out of his He-118 prototype when the propeller broke apart in flight. Ju 87 Stuka - Design: Designated the Ju 87 Stuka (short for Sturzkampfflugzeug), the new dive bomber was an all-metal, cantilevered monoplane that featured spatted, fixed landing gear. Early models mounted two 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns in the wings with a single, rear-facing 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun for the radio operator/gunner. Capable of diving at angles of 60-90°, the Stuka possessed an automatic dive recovery system that engaged when the bomb was released. This allowed the aircraft to safely terminate the dive if the pilot succumbed to g-induced blackout. Built largely of duralumin, the Ju 87 Stuka was constructed in such a way that large segments of the airframe were assembled as single units.

This allowed entire sections of the aircraft to be quickly replaced and decreased the time required for major repairs. In 1937, testing of the Ju 87 Stuka continued as several variants of the Jumo 210 were tried in an effort to increase power. As efforts to improve the aircraft continued, production on the Ju 87 A began at Dessau. As these rolled off the line, Junkers completed the design for an upgraded Ju 87 B. Ju 87 Stuka - Variants: The first mass-produced model, the Ju 87 B saw an upgrade to the Jumo 211D engine and addition of sirens mounted on the wings. These were intended to frighten the enemy as the aircraft attacked. Other improvements included redesigned landing gear. A Ju 87 C variant was also created for naval use, though it was only built in small numbers. As World War II progressed, Junkers continued to evolve the Stuka as no replacement was available. In 1941, production began on the Ju 87 D which had an enhanced engine, greater range, and better defensive armament.

Ju 87 Stuka - Operational History: The Ju 87 Stuka's combat debut came in 1937 with the German Condor Legion during Spanish Civil War. Initially flying the Ju 87 A, the Legion soon switched to the newer by Ju 87 B. During these operations, no aircraft were lost. Having learned invaluable lessons in Spain, Stuka crews were at the forefront of the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. Aiding in opening World War II, they flew precision strikes and were a key element of the German blitzkrieg. Relentlessly attacking enemy positions, the Ju 87 Stuka inspired fear and inflicted heavy losses. In 1940, the type continued to have success during the invasion of Norway and the campaigns in the Low Countries and France. Utilizing effective forward ground controllers, Stuka squadrons were able to provide fast, effective ground support to allow German forces to rapidly advance. In the course of these campaigns, the Ju 87 also proved itself as a deadly anti-shipping weapon. The Ju 87's run of success came to an abrupt halt during the Battle of Britain that summer.

Lacking air superiority, Ju 87 units began taking heavy losses as British Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires took advantage of its slow speed. As a result of these casualties, the Ju 87 Stuka was withdrawn from the battle in mid-August. No longer effective on the Western Front, the Stuka found new life flying in the Mediterranean where it continued to be effective against shipping. With the German offensives into the Balkans in early 1941, it reprised its role in blitzkrieg operations. This continued with the German victories in that Battles of Greece and Crete . Stuka units also aided Field Marshal Erwin Rommel 's Afrika Korps in North Africa participating in engagements such as the Battle of Gazala and Second Battle of El Alamein . With the arrival of American forces during Operation Torch in late 1942, the Stuka again became vulnerable and losses mounted. The Ju 87 Stuka's final heyday came with the invasion of the Soviet Union and the opening of the Eastern Front in June 1941. Flying at the leading edge of the German advance and possessing air superiority, the Stuka operated with impunity.

In this role it saw effective use at notable engagements such as the Battles of Stalingrad and Kursk. As Soviet armor became more numerous, a final variant of the Ju 87 was created. Dubbed the Ju 87 G, this model entered service in early 1943 and possessed enhanced armor and two 37 mm cannon for destroying Soviet tanks. A successful aircraft, this variant remained in use until the end of the war. As Soviet fighter opposition grew, Stuka units began taking heavy losses. Obsolete and with numbers dwindling, the Stuka began to be replaced in the final months of the war by ground attack variants of the Focke-Wulf 190 . Still in use at the war's end, over 6,500 Ju 87s were built during its production run. Selected Sources Junkers Ju 87 Stuka | HowStuffWorks Junkers Ju 87 Stuka The first Junkers Ju 87 Stukas flew in 1935. Although the Stuka became the most famous as a dive bomber, it also achieved considerable success as a tank buster on the Eastern front. See more flight pictures .

none Some classic airplanes -- like the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka -- simply look their part. This large, angular monoplane seemed absolutely ominous in flight or at rest. Of all the many attack planes of World War II , none so captured the terror of dive-bombing as did the dreaded Stuka. Consolidated B-24 Liberator The Stuka name derived from Sturzkampfflugzeug, the generic German word for dive-bomber. So famous was the Junkers Ju 87 that the term Stuka came to be identified with it in Western eyes. The Stuka's first advocate was pilot Ernest Udet, who, with 62 victories in World War I, was the highest-scoring German ace to survive, and a national hero. Udet was a formidable aerobatic pilot (albeit a terrible technician) who pressed the Luftwaffe to adopt dive-bombing as a principal means of attack. Skilled pilots helped the slow Junkers Ju 87 Stuka excel as a tank killer. none The first Junkers Ju 87 Stuka flew in the spring of 1935 , and by 1939 many were ready to wreak havoc in Poland.

There, the Stuka's horrific noise (given a special edge with screaming sirens) and terrifying accuracy exemplified the German Blitzkrieg. The Stuka was equally effective in the Western campaigns, where it served as mobile artillery, moving through France in close coordination with the Panzer columns. An all-metal, gull-wing aircraft with fixed gear and lots of drag, the Stuka proved too slow and too ill-armed to fight over England and was withdrawn from service there. The Stuka was very effective in the early years of the African campaigns, however, and through nearly all of the fighting with the Soviet Union in the East. The Stuka was perfectly suited to the opening days of the war, when the Germans had air superiority. What is surprising, and in its way, noble, was that the Ju 87s and their crews fought on bravely when the tide of war had turned against them. For more information on airplanes, check out: 1/48 Stuka: Models & Kits | eBay Models & Kits | 45 sold This is the 1/48 Scale Stuka Ju 87G-1 Tank Buster. Plastic Model Kit from Revell.

Revell 1/48 F6F-5 Hellcat. Revell Germany 1/72 F4U-4 Corsair. Revell 1/48 P-47D Thunderbolt Razorback. Tamiya 1/48 A6M... $18.99 Buy It Now This is a plastic model that you assemble (with glue) and paint. Some parts may be off trees. $19.99 0 bids Hasegawa 1/48 Junkers Ju87B-2 'Desert Stuka', kit # 09116 or JT16. With True Details resin wheels # 48050. Markings for 2 aircraft. Inside bags are sealed. $7.77 0 bids Lindberg JU87 Stuka made in the USA by Craft House in 1991. All parts are factory sealed but the box has been opened. Has all decals and instructions. | 13 sold Item:Decal Set - Junkers Ju-87B/R Stuka. The set includes a sheet of decals as shown in the photos and full-color placement guide.

This set includes markings for 4 DIFFERENT German aircraft! Buy It Now Free Shipping This item is unassembled and unpainted.It requires modeling skill to put them together. Model Kit. Full Size Image. Failure to comply with this will result in unpaid item filing. $30.84 Buy It Now Hasegawa Product Number: 09054. This is a 1/48 Scale Junkers Ju87G-2 Stuka Plastic Model Kit from Hasegawa. One 1/48 Scale Ju87G-2 Stuka Plastic Model Kit. Top: Black Green (RLM70)/Dk Green (RLM71) sp... $33.99 Buy It Now Version being the Ju87D. The Ju87G was essentially a D-model fitted with. This is a 1/48 Scale Junkers Ju87G-2 Stuka Plastic Model Kit from Hasegawa. During the early phases of WWII the German Ju87 St... $21.24 Buy It Now This sale shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida U.S.A., without reference to the choice of law provision thereof.

Merchandise may contain small parts & pl... The Junkers Ju-87 Stuka: Terror With a Siren The Junkers Ju-87 Stuka: Terror With a Siren SHARE: Facebook Twitter The Stuka got its nickname from the German word Sturzkampfflugzeug or dive-bomber, the official designation was Junkers Ju-87. The first plane prototype Stuka flew in 1936 and the plane was first used in combat in the Spanish Civil War. More than 6,000 Stuka bombers were built in five variants designated A thru G, between 1936 and Aug 1944 The Ju 87 Stuka aircraft’s fixed undercarriages provided sturdy platforms for takeoffs and landings on improvised airfields in the field, but at the cost of airspeed due to drag. On 15 August 1939 during a mass-formation dive-bombing demonstration for high-ranking commanders of the Luftwaffe, disaster struck. The planes dived through a cloud bank and expected to release their practice bombs and then pull out of the dive .

They were unaware that on that particular day the cloud ceiling was too low and unexpected ground mist formed, leaving them with no time to pull out of the dive. Thirteen Ju 87s, and 26 crew members were lost when they crashed into the ground almost simultaneously Image Source: Bundesarchiv By the outbreak of World War II, the Luftwaffe had 366 Ju 87 ready for service, 3 of them carried out the first bombing mission of the war, attacking 11 minutes before the official German declaration of hostilities. The aim of this mission was to destroy the Polish demolition charges wired to the bridges over the Vistula River at Dirscha. However, the mission failed, and the Poles destroyed the bridge before the Germans could reach it.

Continues on Page 2 The Sirens of Death – 11 Amazing Facts About the Ju 87 Stuka | militaryhistorynow.com The Sirens of Death – 11 Amazing Facts About the Ju 87 Stuka “The Stuka was more than just a terror weapon – its ability to deliver bombs where needed with then unheard of precision made it a potent war machine.” Click above for GermanWarMachine.com’s e-book “Stuka Tank Busters ’43” By GermanWarMachine.com IT WOULD BE difficult to come up with a more potent symbol of the German Blitzkrieg of World War Two than the Ju 87 Sturzkampfflugzeug or “Stuka”. The notorious single-engine, two-man, dive-bomber’s iconic ‘gull wings’ and ‘spatted’ undercarriage are as unmistakable as the plane’s instantly recognizable wailing siren, dubbed the “Jericho Trumpet” ( ♬ LISTEN TO IT HERE ). But the Stuka was more than just a terror weapon – its ability to deliver bombs where needed with then unheard of precision made it a potent war machine that crippled the defenders of both Poland and France.

In fact, the Ju 87 was a critical contributor to Axis victory in a number of campaigns in the war’s opening years. In fact, it would soldier on in various roles long after the tide had turned against the Nazis. Here are 11 remarkable facts about this famous warplane. Stukas put the ‘lighting’ in Hitler’s Blitzkrieg. (Image source: German Federal Archive) 1. The Stuka concept was imported from the U.S.A. The Ju 87 was inspired by American dive-bombers like the Curtiss F8C (Image source: WikiCommons) Ernst Udet (Image source: WikiCommons) In 1931, Ernst Udet , the second-highest scoring German fighter ace of the First World War and future Luftwaffe architect, was in the United States to take part in a stunt flying display. During his trip, the 36-year-old fighter pilot witnessed a Curtiss F8C Helldiver make a simulated dive bombing attack at an air show. The spectacle made an impression on the visiting flier. After the Nazis rose to power, Udet became a champion of to concept of using dive bombing to support ground forces.

Udet even brought two U.S. dive bombers back to Germany (the Curtiss Hawk version of the Helldiver). The demonstrators played a key role in making dive bombing central to Luftwaffe doctrine. This in turn would help inform the development of the Stuka. 2. The first Stukas had twin tails A prototype Stuka. Note the twin-tail configuration. Early prototypes of the Stuka featured stabilizing double-fin tail-plane configurations yet weren’t fitted with dive brakes. In January 1936, one of Junkers’ most experienced test pilots was killed when his starboard tail-fin broke away. The pilot was unable to pull out of a dive and crashed. After this, Stukas were fitted with single tail fins and brakes. LOOK OUT BELOW: Stukas diving. (Image source: WikiCommons) 3. The Ju 87 first fought in Spain Stukas made their combat debut as part of the German contingent to the Spanish Civil War — the Condor Legion . They first flew in action in 1936 when a single experimental Ju 87 was secretly deployed to fight alongside nationalist forces. More would follow in the coming months.

In fact, Stukas would serve in limited numbers in support of Francisco Franco until early 1939. During that time, at least one was lost in action. Yet the Luftwaffe learned valuable lessons about the effectiveness of the Ju 87 as a dive-bomber from the deployment. 4. Dive-bombing is a tricky business CLICK TO ENLARGE (Image source: WikiCommons) Dive bombing was both physically taxing and intellectually demanding on pilots. Before a bombing run, Stuka crews were required to go through a dizzying checklist that included the following steps: ✔ Landing flaps at cruise position ✔ Elevator at cruise position ✔ Rudder trip at cruise position ✔ Contact altimeter ON ✔ Contact altimeter set to release altitude ✔ Supercharger set at automatic ✔ Cooler flaps closed ✔ Dive brakes open As soon as the dive brakes were activated, the Stuka’s nose would automatically turn down and the plane would begin its descent. The maximum dive-speed was 600 km/h (373 mph). Once the bombs were released, the contact altimeter warning would light. The pilot would toggle a knob on the control column that would trigger an automatic pull-out.

It was a handy feature that prevented the plane from ploughing into the ground — during recoveries, crew were subject to a black-out inducing force of some six Gs. 5. The Stuka ‘killed it’ in Poland German Stukas over Poland, 1939. (Image source: German Federal Archives) Ju 87s flew almost 6,000 sorties during “Case White” the German invasion of Poland . In that time, only 31 of the planes were lost (out of a total of 285 Nazi aircraft destroyed in the two-week campaign). For their part, Stukas decimated the opposition. “We came across throngs of Polish troops, against which our 100-lb fragmentation bombs were deadly,” one pilot recalled. “After that, we went almost down to the deck firing our machine guns. The confusion was indescribable.” 6. Deadly (and varied) payloads A Ju 87 attacks an Allied position in North Africa.

(Image source: Associated Press) Stuka squadrons that took part in the invasion of Western Europe in 1940 were outfitted with four main types of bombs: The heaviest was a 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) tank-busting panzerbombe cylindrische (PC) or armour-piercing weapon. The 500 kg (1,100 lb) spreng dickwand (SD) or high-explosive thick-cased bomb was effective against concrete fortifications. Then there was the spreng cylindrische (SC250) or general-purpose 250 kg (500 lb) bomb. And finally, planes might also carry a 50kg (110 lb) fragmentation weapon, the SC50. The most common load-out for a Stuka was a single SC250 beneath the fuselage and four SC50s under the wings. 7. The Stuka met its match over Britain STUKA HUNTERS — RAF Hurricanes and Spitfires made short work of the Ju 87 in 1940.

The British planes flew 100 mph faster and were far more agile than the dumpy dive bomber. (Image source: WikiCommons) During the early phase of the 1940 Battle of Britain , Stukas proved highly effective against Allied shipping in the English Channel. But it soon became evident that the dive-bombers were no match for British Hurricanes and Spitfires . The Stuka’s maximum speed was only a sluggish 242 mph, while its two wing-mounted MG-17 machine guns and its single rear-facing 7.92 mm weapon were woefully inadequate in the face of the heavily armed and maneuverable RAF fighters. In one day alone (Aug. 18), British planes shot down 18 Stukas. In fact, a total of 59 of the dive-bombers were destroyed in aerial combat during the summer of 1940. As expected, the Luftwaffe soon pulled its Ju 87s frontline service. 8. The Stuka got a new lease on life G-Model Stukas were equipped with massive anti-tank guns.

(Image source: German Federal Archives) Although the Ju 87 was fast becoming obsolete in the West, it wasn’t the end for the Stuka. In fact, an improved G-model came into use early in 1943 on the Eastern Front. Based on the earlier D-3 variant, this new version was armed with two under-slung 37-mm cannons . The Stuka’s old dive-bombing mission profiles gave way to tank busting tactics. Although the plane’s ‘heavy artillery’ couldn’t hope to penetrate the front armour of the Red Army’s T-34 , they could easily blast through the sides and back of any Soviet armoured vehicle. Stuka ace Hans Ulrich Rudel. (Image source: WikiCommons) 9. Meet the Stuka “aces” Hans-Ulrich Rudel was the most successful Ju 87 pilot of the war and was the lone recipient of Germany’s Knight’s Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Ironically, the decorated ace was considered a lacklustre pilot earlier in his career. Yet Rudel claimed 519 tank “kills” while flying Ju 87s.

He also destroyed 150 artillery pieces, 70 landing craft, nine aircraft, four armoured trains, several bridges, a destroyer, two cruisers, and even the Soviet battleship Marat . In all, Rudel flew 2,530 sorties on the Eastern Front, and survived the loss of a leg (amputated below the knee) when he was shot down in February of 1945. He died in 1982 at 66. 10. Night Stukas Stukas in action, 1943. (Image source: German Federal Archives) As the Stuka became increasingly vulnerable to Allied fighters in daylight operations, the Luftwaffe created special Nachtschlachtgruppen (NSGr) or “Night Attack Groups”. After the Normandy landings, three NSGr operated in Western Europe. The aircraft, designated D-7 and D-8, were outfitted with eliminators to mask their exhausts, ultraviolet lighting behind the instrument panel and special night reflector sights or nachtrevi. The planes’ nocturnal tactics involved a lead plane dropping flares to illuminate a target while other Stukas swooped in for the attack. 11.

Stukas did the most damage at sea (Image source: German Federal Archives) Although most picture the Stuka screaming down onto enemy tanks, trucks and soldiers, it’s arguable that the plane’s greatest successes came when it was used against enemy shipping. During the Norwegian campaign for example, Ju 87 formations sunk two destroyers, crippled a pair of cruisers and posed a deadly threat to Royal Navy surface operations in the region. In the early stages of the Battle of Britain, the dive-bombers famously played havoc with British sea traffic in the English Channel. Indeed, the first Stuka pilot Knight’s Cross was awarded to Captain Paul-Werner Hozzel for successfully attacking shipping there. Later, in the Mediterranean, Ju 87s proved their worth, putting the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious out of action in January 1941. Finally, on the Eastern Front, Stukas dealt crippling blows to both the Soviet Black Sea and Baltic fleets. It was the skill of the pilots in dive-bombing tactics that made the Stuka so deadly against ships.

As British Admiral Andrew Cunningham put it, while observing the Ju 87 attacks on Illustrious: “We could not but admire the skill and precision of it all.” You can find out more about the Ju 87 STUKA in a “Rapid Read” eBook Stuka Tank Busters ’43 , available for £1.99 (or dollar equivalent) on Amazon and also on the German War Machine website: Edwin H Johnson 23 December, 2016 at 8:09 am the curtiss plane he brought back was the f8c falcon, the hawk wasn’t in service till after he returned to germany… No. 2498: Sturzkampfflugzeug STURZKAMPFFLUGZEUG Click here for audio of Episode 2498 Today, a troubled machine. The University of Houston's College of Engineering presents this series about the machines that make our civilization run, and the people whose ingenuity created them. I talk about many different airplanes in this series. But I've avoided one -- the World War II Junkers Ju-87, the Stuka dive bomber. The Stuka has long been a trouble to my mind.

Here was a basic instrument of NAZI Blitzkrieg -- war as lightning attack, war as shock and awe. The Stuka first saw service in the Spanish Civil War. Then it was used against Polish civilians in 1939. Early on, it was fitted with a wind-driven siren that uttered a banshee scream at maximum dive speed. The NAZIs called it Jericho's Trumpet, and used it to terrify people below. Of course that soon lost its novelty, while it kept reducing airspeeds by 15 miles-an-hour. They abandoned the siren. "Sturzkampfflugzeug" or Stuka, Junkers, Ju 87 But, beyond the Stuka's horrific use, I'm troubled by two design elements: Airplanes were in the midst of a leap forward; Stukas were yesterday's news as soon as they flew. They also set up a strange contradiction between beauty and ugliness. Germany had bought four primitive Curtiss dive bombers in the early 1930s. Those were still old biplanes, but the Germans knew they were the warplane of the future.

A young designer, Hermann Pohlmann, responded with a series of attempts to build a competitor. By 1937, he'd given the Stuka its basic form. Pohlmann was committed to the art deco ideal of simplicity and angularity. The Stuka had both: It was a low winged monoplane with a fixed landing gear. Retractable gear would've violated its basic simplicity. Still, teardrop covers streamlined the wheels. An inverted gull wing dipped down from the fuselage to where the landing gear attached, then rose again. The wings and tail were angular, while a large nose spinner began a smooth line from nose to tail. The result was truly Darth Vadar-ish. People today generally call it ugly. But I find its functional lines compelling. Of course, I also think grackles are beautiful birds. The Stuka was something you might expect to see in the 1930s comic strip Smilin' Jack. It had that sort of razzle-dazzle, but it was slow and vulnerable. As long as the Wehrmacht attacked defenseless enemies, the Stuka was devastatingly effective. Send a typical WW-II fighter up against it and it was doomed.

That's why the Stuka fell from grace during the Battle of Britain. It became a tool for low-altitude troop support in theaters where there was little allied air presence. And it made a good training plane. Nevertheless, 6500 were made while engineers tried to save it with every kind of modification and improvement. Here in America, we studied the Stuka just as Germany had studied our old Curtiss biplane. We responded with the similar, but more advanced, Vultee Vengeance dive bomber. And, unless you too are old, you may never've heard of the Stuka. But, for a season, this throwback was the very icon of all that threatened us. And it was also an echo of 1930s art -- this angular expressionist woodcut with its fragments of art deco, and just a hint of modern streamlining. I'm John Lienhard at the University of Houston, where we're interested in the way inventive minds work. (Theme music) Junkers JU-87 Stuka | eBay Junkers JU-87 Stuka This is a plastic model that you assemble (with glue) and paint. Some parts may be off trees.

Condition: | 10 sold (This is the 1/32 Scale Junkers Ju-87A Stuka. Plastic Model Kit by Trumpeter. 1) German Air Force Ju 87A-2 Irene 6(W.Nr.5040). 2) German Air Force Ju 87A-1 S13 S29. Dragon Models 1/35 Wittmann s Ace T... Buy It Now or Best Offer Model appears complete in factory bag. A perfect kit for assembly or collecting! Box for model shows age and storage related wear, with lid especially rough. $24.99 Buy It Now This is a plastic model that you assemble (with glue) and paint. Some parts may be off trees. $13.50 Buy It Now Item:Decal Set - Junkers Ju-87B/K/R Stuka. The set includes a sheet of decals, as shown in the photos, plus a full color placement guide. | 9 sold This set includes markings for 2 DIFFERENT Ju-87G aircraft from Stab SG2 and Stab SG10! Item:Decal Set - Junkers Ju-87G Stuka.

The set includes a sheet of decals as shown in the photos and full-color ... Buy It Now or Best Offer New in box Guillow's Junkers JU 87-B Stuka German WW2 Dive Bomber Model Kit Airplane a 16 1/2" Wing Span scale model of the Rubber Band Powered. Pictures :I can send more pictures if you want more spe... Buy It Now or Best Offer Up for auction is this built model of the classic German Junkers JU-87B Stuka ...contest winning build, clean, recessed panel lines, filled seams, sealed decals, modestly weathered, super build! I hav... $19.99 Buy It Now This set includes an Etched Brass Instrument Panel with full-color Instrument Decals. Airscale recommends this set for the Airfix 1/24 Ju-87B model. Item:Junkers Ju-87B Stuka Upgrade Photo Etch and De...

Stuka | German aircraft | Britannica.com German aircraft World War II Stuka, German in full Sturzkampfflugzeug (“dive-bomber”), a low-wing, single-engine monoplane—especially the Junkers JU 87 dive-bomber—used by the German Luftwaffe from 1937 to 1945, with especially telling effect during the first half of World War II . The Stuka was designed to employ the dive-bombing technique developed earlier by the U.S. Navy—i.e., diving on the target at a steep angle and releasing the bombs at low altitude for maximum accuracy before breaking away. The JU 87 had dive brakes to slow the dive and give the pilot more time to aim his airplane and, thereby, the bomb. It also had hinged external bomb racks that could, when the craft was in a steep dive, swing downward and outward so that the bombs, when released, would clear the airplane’s propellers.

The JU 87 was armed with four 7.9-millimetre machine guns, two of which were operated by a rear-seat gunner; late in the war, the rear-mounted guns were replaced by a single 13-millimetre gun. The Stuka carried under its fuselage either one 1,100-pound (500-kilogram) or one 550-pound (250-kilogram) bomb, plus two smaller bombs (110 pounds [50 kg]) under each wing. The craft was first used by German pilots in the Spanish Civil War and then in the invasions of Poland , the Low Countries , and France. Wind-driven sirens were mounted on the fixed landing gear for psychological effect, and this effect was enhanced by the addition of cardboard sirens to the bombs. Although the Stukas, refined from time to time, were used throughout the war, their maximum speed was just 210 miles per hour (335 km per hour), and they proved no match for the British combination of early warning by radar and fast fighter planes. German Junkers Ju 87 “Stuka” dive-bomber.

UPI/Bettmann Archive Junkers JU-87 | Aircraft | Links Junkers JU-87 - $5.50 The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka (from Sturzkampfflugzeug, "dive bomber") was a two-seat (pilot and rear gunner) German ground-attack aircraft of World War II. Designed by Hermann Pohlmann, the Stuka first flew in 1935 and made its combat début in 1936 as part of the Luftwaffe's Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. Stuka Junkers Ju-87 downloadable cardmodel Stuka Junkers Ju-87 WWII German Dive Bomber The Ju 87 Stuka Dive bomber, designed by Dipling Hans Pohlmann of Junkers, made its first flight in the early part of 1935. Even today it would still be in any 'top ten' awards for ugliness, but beauty was hardly its business. To put it as generously as possible, its design was strictly functional, and there is no doubt that this objective was achieved.

The initial Ju 87A version, bloodied in the Spanish Civil War from December 1937, was soon superseded by the improved Ju 87B with (though it may not have looked like it) aerodynamic improvements and a substantially more powerful engine. Able to carry up to 2,205 lbs of bombs, according to version, the Ju 87B also was fitted with small sirens near the tops of the main under carriage leg fairing's, to add a devastating and demoralizing scream to the whine of its engine and the whistle of its falling bombs. What people say... Hi Chip - That JU87 has got to be one of your best prop models. The fuselage and gull wing assembly's just fall into place. I also appreciated the extra little details, which you (Chauncy!) took the time to produce. Two thumbs up for one of the most infamous war birds of WWII. Regards, Steve "This is a pretty easy model to build and that surprised me, since on paper (pun intended) it looked a bit problematic. Thought the wing would be the toughest part, but it turned out to be quite easy." Alan A.

Wheeler Fairfax, Virginia May I thank you for this wonderful model - an exceptional piece of 'card engineering'! The cockpit canopy is a work of art in itself! I won't trouble you with a picture as I have built it 'as is' to show the visitors to the upcoming exhibition my model group is having just how good FG models are. The only mod I did do was to add a little prop powered siren (most important on this bird!) to the port u/c leg, and that isn't a criticism because not all the Stuka's had these! Although I remember your first card models from all those years ago with affection I marvel at how far FG has come since then. Long may you continue to delight and excite us! "Worked on Stuka while watching TV. Fuselage looks good. Possible to get good Stuka shape. Tail section is absolutely ingenious. Wheels and spats look great. Can't wait to make this one a Giant." Dave Caldwell Lexington, KY "I was able to complete the main fuselage and tail tonight. Very nice. The fit is so good that each succeeding section forces you to correctly shape the fuselage without any guesswork.

I started with the cockpit section and worked my way forward first and then to the tail after that. Seemed to work for me." One more comment. The wings are an engineering gem!.....but,I changed position of the tabs for the center section from the center strip to the wings...just makes it easier for me to get the correct angle. I needed to leave this section open in order to reach into the wings and secure the other tabs...Joe Cangero Islip Terrace, NY. These are the Stuka Junkers JU-87 models that won the FG Modeling Madness (FGMM) 2010 best in class prize. Thanks to Chris Walas who donated his $20 prize money toward modeling materials for hospitalized vets!! I like the challenge of doing smaller models and Ju-87s are a personal favorite. I’ve built the FG Stuka at least a half dozen times now, several in smaller scales. I have to say, this is a tough one for tiny scale; wheel pants, gull wings, tail wing braces and such all add up. It's not tiny tiny. It's about an inch and a half long, but that's small enough!

I had originally thought I might brave an attempt at a clear canopy for this one until my eyes made it abundantly clear that I was wisest not to consider it! -Chris I just can’t stop building FG Stukas! It’s a fun kit, a little more challenging than a lot of the FG kits due to the wheel pants, gull wing and greenhouse canopy, but it builds into a nice model of the prototype. I darkened mine down as I think the FG colors are a bit bright. The JU-87 is my favorite plane and the FG kit really captures the essence of the real plane. I also added a shot of my winter scheme version! -Chris Junkers Ju 87 STUKA Hailed as the 'supreme weapon' by the German propaganda machine, it did indeed appear to justify this title as it screamed and bombed its way through Poland, Norway, France and the Low Countries during World War 2, against little or no effective fighter opposition. Then, at Dunkirk and in the Battle of Britain, it came up against the Hurricane and Spitfire - and was quickly proved to be clumsy, poorly an-ned and extremely vulnerable.

Before the end of August 1940 it had been withdrawn from major operations against Britain, though later, in conditions more favorable to it, it succeeded again in Greece, in Crete and on the Russian Front. But the 'supreme weapon' myth had by then been exploded, and even its quite successful use as a tank-buster (Ju 87D) and anti-shipping aircraft (Ju 87R) was not enough to restore fully its tarnished reputation. This is one by Chauncy Green for Fiddlers Green and he spent a lot of time and effort to get it right. We think it's his best yet. Enjoy! The Ju-87 folder contains two sizes. The larger version has a wingspan of approx 10 inches. During the first stages of the Second World War, the Ju 87 proved a decisive weapon. Abbreviated from Sturzkampfflugzeug (dive bomber), the word Stuka entered the general vocabulary as a vital component of the Blitzkrieg, the "lightning war". They fitted a wind whistle into the LG so it would emit a deathly screeeem as it dove on its unfortunate target.

The Ju 87 prototype flew in 1935 with a tailplane sporting end plate vertical surfaces... but the second prototype and all later aircraft had a single fin and rudder assembly. Early aircraft were evaluated in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). From late 1940 the type was steadily relegated to areas of negligible air opposition. For lack of a replacement the type remained in production long after it became obsolete, production totalled 5,709. In the mid-1940s the McDonnell Aircraft Company in the USA built a carrier-based jet fighter which it named the Banshee. It is a name that might with considerably greater aptness have been bestowed upon a much less attractive warplane of a decade earlier; but the Junkers Ju 87 gave rise to a name of its own that was to have far more terrifying connotations to millions of Europeans. For the Ju 87 was a Sturzkampfflugzeug, the German word for dive-bomber, and with deadly effect it was to personify the sterm 'Stuka' for the rest of its career.

Development of the dive-bomber in Germany was fostered by Ernst Udet, after seeing a demonstration by the American Curtiss Helldiver in 1933. The Ju 87, designed by Dipl Ing Hans Pohlmann of Junkers, made its first flight in the early pan of 1935. Even today it would still be in any 'top ten' awards for ugliness, but beauty was hardly its business. To put it as generously as possible, its design was strictly functional, and there is no doubt that this objective was achieved. The initial Ju 87A version, blooded in the Spanish Civil War from December 1937, was soon superseded by the improved Ju 87B with (though it may not have looked like it) aerodynamic improvements and a substantially more powerful engine. Able to carry up to 2,205 lbs of bombs, according to version, the Ju 87B also was fitted with small sirens near the tops of the main under carriage leg fairing's, to add a devastating and demoralizing scream to the whine of its engine and the whistle of its falling bombs.

Hailed as the 'supreme weapon' by the German propaganda machine, it did indeed appear to justify this title as it screamed and bombed its way through Poland, Norway, France and the Low Countries during World War 2, against little or no effective fighter opposition. Then, at Dunkirk and in the Battle of Britain, it came up against the Hurricane and Spitfire - and was quickly proved to be clumsy, poorly an-ned and extremely vulnerable. Before the end of August 1940 it had been withdrawn from major operations against Britain, though later, in conditions more favorable to it, it succeeded again in Greece, in Crete and on the Russian Front. But the 'supreme weapon' myth had by then been exploded, and even its quite successful use as a tank-buster (Ju 87D) and anti-shipping aircraft (Ju 87R) was not enough to restore fully its tarnished reputation. The United States and Germany, in particular, were enthusiastic proponents of the dive bomber during the later 1930s and the early part of World War 2.

This particular species of warplane seemed to be typified in the Ju 87, whose ugly lines and wailing engine struck an especial note of terror in the skies above Poland, France and the Low Countries in 1939-40. Design of the Ju 87, by Dipl-Ing Pohlmann, started in 1933, and the first prototype flew early in 1935. This was powered by a Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine and had rectangular twin fins and rudders, but the Ju 87V2, flown in the following autumn, had a single tail and a 6 1 Ohp Junkers Jurno 2 1 OA engine, and was more representative of the production aircraft to follow. A pre-series batch of Ju 87A-Os was started in 1936, and in the spring of 1937 delivery began of the Ju 87A- I initial production model, followed by the generally similar A-2. About two hundred A series were built before, in the autumn of 1938, there appeared the much-modified Ju 87B.

Powered by the Jumo 211, this had an enlarged vertical tail, redesigned crew canopy and new-style cantilever fairing's over the main legs of the landing gear. Dr. Jim Cookson sends in this photo showing how he detailed the Stuka wings... Both the A and B models were sent for service with the Condor Legion in Spain in 1938, but by the outbreak of World War 2 the A series had been relegated to the training role, and the three hundred and thirty-six aircraft in front-line service were all Ju 87B- Is. The fighter superiority of the Luftwaffe ensured the Ju 87 a comparatively uninterrupted passage in 1939-40, but opposition during the Battle of Britain was much sterner, and losses of the Ju 87 were considerably heavier. Nevertheless, production of the B series continued into 1941, and substantial numbers were supplied to the Regia Aeronautica, and to the air forces of Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania. In production alongside the B series was the long-range Ju 87R, which from 1940 was used for anti shipping and other missions.

Before the war small numbers were also completed of the Ju 87C, a version of the B with arrester hook, folding wings and other 'navalized' attributes. This was planned for service aboard the carrier Graf Zeppe1in, but the ship was never completed, and the few Ju 87C-Os built served with a land-based unit. Others laid down as C-Is were completed as B-2s. After the setbacks in the Battle of Britain the Ju 87B continued to serve in the Mediterranean and North Africa. Its subsequent development and employment was mainly in the close-support role or as a trainer. Next major variant was the Ju 87D, whose evolution had begun in 1940. Several sub-types of this model were built, their chief characteristics being the use of a more powerful jumo engine, increased fuel tankage similar to that of the ju 87R, and a considerably refined airframe with reinforced armament and extra armour protection for the crew.

Most D variants were evolved for a ground-attack role, and could carry a variety of different weapon loads ranging from a single 3,9681b bomb beneath the fuselage to a pair of under wing pods each containing six 7 - 9mm machine guns. The dive brakes fitted to the earlier ju 87s were usually omitted. The ju 87D-5 introduced an extended wing of 49ft 21, in span, and the D-7 was a specialized night-attack version. Variants of the Ju 87D served in the Mediterranean, North Africa and on the Eastern Front, equipping units of the Hungarian and Romanian air forces as well as those of the Luftwaffe. Proposals to replace the D model by developments of it designated ju 87F and ju 187 were abandoned in 1943, but one other variant was encountered operationally. This was the ju 87G, which entered service in 1943 as an anti-tank aeroplane with a 37mm BK 3.7 cannon mounted in a streamlined fairing attached beneath each wing. These could be replaced by bombs for more general ground-attack missions.

The Ju 87G was essentially a conversion of the long-span D-5, and aircraft of this type were quite successful in knocking out Soviet tanks along the Eastern Front until the appearance of better-class Soviet fighter opposition in the autumn of 1944. Operational trainers for pilots engaged in ground-attack work were produced, under the designation ju 87H, by converting various D sub-series to have dual controls and modified cockpit hoods. When production of the Ju 87 series finally ended in September 1944, more than five thousand seven hundred of these aircraft had been built. The Ju 87G-1 anti-tank aircraft ..was the last variant of the Ju 87 to become operational, apart from the Ju 87H trainer. The G-11 was not a new-build variant, but was converted from Ju 87113-5 airframes. The basic Ju 87D-5 was adapted to carry a pair of massive Flak 18 (BK 3,7) 37-mm cannon pods under its outer wing panels. It could carry bombs instead of guns, but had no dive-brakes.

The removal of dive bombing equipment made ~the G-11 most unrepresentative among Stuka variants. The concept was the brainchild of the extraordinary Hans-Ulrich Rudel who, despite being shot down 30 times, flew no fewer than 2,530 combat sorties and destroyed 519 Russian tanks. 10 (Pz)./SG3 formed in MarGh 1944 through the re designation of 4./StG2, and was based at Jakobstadt in Latvia as part of Luftflotte I between April and July 1944. The unit helped cover the retreat westwards, becoming incorporated in I/SG 9 as 2. Staffell on January 7, 1945, and ending the war in the Courliand pocket. Where the Stuka Units served: Unit Ju 87s took part in the Polish campaign, the attacks on the Low Countries and the Battle of France. The Stuka's then faced the fighters of the RAF in the Battle of Britain, and suffered accordingly.

Another successful campaign in Greece and the Balkans followed, before the Stukegeschwader turned their attentions to the Eastern Front, where they fought until late 1943, when the units were redesignated as Schlachtgeschwader, most later transitioning to the more potent Fw 190. The Ju 87G-I s served only with l I I/SG 2 and with 10. (Pz)/SG 1, 10.(Pz)/SG 2, 10.(Pz)/SG 3, and 10 (Pz)/SG 77. Luftwaffe tactical aircraft carried four-digit/letter codes on the rear fuselage. The first pair denoted the major unit (Geschwader or Gruppe), the third identified the individual aircraft and was presented in differing colors depending on whether the unit was the staff flight, first, second or third Staffel of each group, and the fourth identified the Staffel itself.

Question: Which company manufactured the World War 2 `Stuka' dive- bomber?
Answer: Junkers